http://www.kansascity.com/490/story/1370769.html He sucks, that's why. Denver giving protected 1st roound pick to dump his $3.7 million salary. I'm guessing this is about what it would cost to dump the $3.5 million owed to Brain Cook.
Hmmm, that's not too bad a price to pay, it should be a late first rounder, they get an early 2nd rounder back, get rid of 3.7 mil in salary, meaning 7.4 mil of luxury tax savings. Are we sure they didn't pay Memphis cash for this to go down?
I'd assume they paid both cash + pick to for this to go down so early. Pretty much what the Rockets gave up with Francis. Waiting until the trade deadline teams paid less to dump salary but I guess they run the risk of missing out.
The Nuggs don't get "early 2nd rounder back." They probably get something like "top 59 protected 2nd round pick," which in reality means nothing. NBA teams just throw that stuff in there as symbolic consideration because NBA requires at least something minimal going to each team in a trade. It's a legal technicality. I believe the Rockets got something similar in the Francis trade with Memphis.
Not surprising. I've been saying this very thing about Brian Cook for some time now. Why anyone on this BBS actually thinks that Brian Cook has any trade value whatsoever simply by being an expiring contract, I just don't understand. If I was making $4M this season, do you think anyone would want my contract just because it's expiring in a year? Given that the Rockets will be fighting just to make the playoffs next year, I highly doubt that they'd give up a 2010 first rounder to dump Cook. Also, the Rockets basically have no second rounder of their own until 2013. So, it will take a LOT of money to dump Cook. Hence, they won't dump him until just before the deadline (to minimize the cash payment to offset his remaining salary). This is also why Brian Cook WILL NOT be waived. It will simply cost the Rockets too damn much. That being said, I'm starting to worry that Memphis is running out of cap room to make these little "luxury tax saver" deals. First, they trade Darko for Q-Rich's larger salary. Then they agree to take on Stackhouse's contract. Then they trade Q-Rich for Randolph's much larger salary. Now, with the Hunter trade, the Griz are only about $6M or so under the cap. And they'll be selling that cap room to the highest bidder. Morey better have Sam Presti and the Thunder on speed dial come February.
If a team wants to avoid a tax or is trying to free up a roster spot then moves like trading a pick is inevitable.
Don't really understand why you are saying this. Cook by himself wont get you much except a bad contract, but his contract could definitely be useful in matching up salaries for potential deals.
Yes, but only if the other team was DESPERATE to move a bigger contract and there was no other way to accomplish that goal. Even in that case, the other team would probably want something else from the Rockets to counter-balance having to save a roster spot for Cook for the remainder of the season. Unless the Rockets are willing to take on Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries from the Knicks (NOT something I am advocating), I just don't see any other team or any other scenario where Brian Cook's salary will realistically play a role in balancing salaries.
What you are saying is that Cook is a crappy contract, in order to get rid of him you have to take back an even crappier contract.
It is simple. No NBA Basketball skills no trade value. He may have the skills to play basketball but not good enough for the NBA thus no trade value.
Rockets are around $4-5M over LT. If they want back under they need to trade McGrady for 25% less salary in return and salary dump Cook to an under the cap team.
I think an example of what people are saying would be if we actually managed to trade for Paul or Bosh. We would possibly throw in Cook to make the salaries match depending on things, and while we would probably have to take in an even crappier contract, well, it's the price you pay for grabbing an excellent player like the two mentioned above who are obviously better than anyone on our team. No one's talking about trading Cook in and of itself.
If Cook's contract wasn't useful for possibly matching up salaries in trades, he wouldn't be on the roster. Realistically. I'm not saying that people are going to be banging down the rockets door to get Cook, but whether you want to admit it or not, his expiring IS an asset.
